Welcome to the BBG podcast! Today, we venture into the heart of Larian Studios, the creative minds behind the critically acclaimed Baldur's Gate 3. John O'Brien and Greg Lidstone unveil the culture and processes behind the game’s cinematic development, offering insights into adapting to an evolving story and nurturing a collaborative environment.

Key Points:

Embracing Fluidity: Baldur's Gate 3's development was a dynamic process, with story elements and cinematic scenes constantly changing. Larian Studios' structure fostered adaptability, allowing teams to react to these changes and seize opportunities.

Collective Decision-Making, Singular Vision: Decision-making at Larian was a collaborative effort involving various team leads and prioritizing player experience above all else, with decisions framed against an aligned vision everyone shared.

Open Communication & Trust: The studio thrives on transparent communication and a deep-seated trust in its team members. This fosters autonomy and allows individuals to take ownership of their creative contributions.

The Human Element: Building a great game isn't just about project management; it's about embracing the human element. Larian encourages its developers to make games they are passionate about, fostering a sense of personal investment and creative fulfillment.

Baldur's Gate 3 stands as a testament to the power of adaptability, trust, and open communication in game development. Larian Studios' approach highlights the importance of embracing change, fostering a culture of collaboration, and empowering individuals to contribute their unique creativity.

Share your thoughts! What are your key takeaways from John and Greg's experiences? How do you navigate the challenges of adaptation and collaboration in your own projects? Let us know in the comments below!

Don't forget to subscribe and hit the notification bell for more episodes. Your feedback and support are greatly appreciated, and we look forward to bringing you more valuable content. See you next time!

To learn more about Larian Studios:

• Larian Studios Website: https://larian.com/

• Larian Studios LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/larian-studios/

• Baldur’s Gate 3 Website: https://baldursgate3.game/

Our discord community is live! Join here to engage with leaders and producers in game dev looking to make our industry a better place that makes better games: https://discord.gg/ySCPS5aMcQ

If you’re interested in an online course on becoming a better game producer, head here: https://www.buildingbettergames.gg/succeeding-in-game-production

Subscribe to our newsletter for more game development tips and resources: https://www.buildingbettergames.gg/newsletter

Ben's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjamin-carcich/

YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@buildingbettergames

Welcome to the BBG podcast, episode 70! In today’s episode, Ben dives deep into the concept of flow with Kevin Scheepers, founder of FlowMade and GameWell. If you’ve ever wondered how to enhance collaboration in your dev teams or struggled with balancing a chaotic calendar, this episode is for you. Kevin shares his passion for creating high-functioning game studios by focusing on organizational flow.

Key Points:

Understanding Flow:

• Flow is an optimal state where individuals perform and feel their best.
• Kevin highlights that it’s an active state, merging awareness with the activity.
• You won’t ALWAYS be in flow.

Individual vs. Organizational:

• Individual flow requires focus and uninterrupted work.
• Organizational flow needs team alignment towards a shared goal.

Triggers and Blockers:

• Flow is triggered by a balance between challenge and skill.
• Blockers include stress and distractions; “eustress” can enhance performance.

Creating an Environment:

• Leaders can foster flow by setting clear goals and reducing distractions.
• Balancing team and individual needs is crucial for maintaining flow.

Compliment:

• Ironically, compliments can disrupt flow by shifting focus to the self.
• Kevin suggests praising the work rather than the person to sustain flow.

Leadership:

• Leadership is key to nurturing flow, requiring clear communication.
• Understanding the organization at both macro and micro levels supports flow.

Kevin Scheepers leaves us with valuable advice on designing game studios that thrive on flow, encouraging leaders to map out their team’s strengths and challenges. By understanding the unique makeup of your team and the processes that drive flow, you can unlock new levels of creativity and productivity in game development.

Don't forget to subscribe and hit the notification bell for more episodes. Your feedback and support are greatly appreciated, and we look forward to bringing you more valuable content. See you next time!

To learn more about Kevin Scheepers:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-scheepers-96229428/

• FlowMade Website: https://flowmade.org

• GameWell Podcast: https://flowmade.org/gamewell

Our discord community is live! Join here to engage with leaders and producers in game dev looking to make our industry a better place that makes better games: https://discord.gg/ySCPS5aMcQ

If you’re interested in an online course on becoming a better game producer, head here: https://www.buildingbettergames.gg/succeeding-in-game-production
Subscribe to our newsletter for more game development tips and resources: https://www.buildingbettergames.gg/newsletter

Ben's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjamin-carcich/

YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@buildingbettergames

Welcome to another episode of Building Better Games! Today, we are thrilled to have John Cutler, a capable and experienced product leader with a background in tech (with some game development and music thrown in). John will share his insights on fostering a healthy product culture, maintaining vision, and avoiding common pitfalls in the industry.

Key Points:

John Cutler's Journey:

• Started with a video game studio.
• Transitioned from music to software product management.
• Writes, consults, and leads product organizations.

Product Thinking:

• Importance of product managers alongside talented designers and engineers.
• Focus on product viability and market fit.
• Balancing craft excellence with overall vision

Diminishing Returns:

• Maintain momentum while ensuring quality.
• Internal motivation is key for team success.

Role of Product Managers:

• Act as partners, not overseers.
• Importance of involvement in daily standups and retrospectives.

Leadership and Culture:

• Create environments fostering creativity and coherence.
• Address issues harming team dynamics and productivity.

Feature Factory Approach:

• Avoid treating development as a feature factory.
• Focus on sustainable growth and internal culture.

Complex Adaptive Systems:

• Balance process-centric and variable approaches.
• Embrace uncertainty as an opportunity.

Ideal Prioritization:

• Effective prioritization is crucial.
• Example of a CTO refocusing by deleting the backlog.

Aspiring Product Managers:

• Key traits: curiosity, problem-solving, team orientation.
• Gain hands-on experience before diving into product management.

Culture and Leadership:

• Leadership behaviors impact performance and creativity.
• Address performance asymmetries within teams.

Thanks for joining us! We explored John's journey, highlighting the importance of a healthy product culture and clear vision. John provided advice on the role of product managers, effective prioritization, and fostering creativity within teams.

Don't forget to subscribe and hit the notification bell for more episodes. Your feedback and support are greatly appreciated, and we look forward to bringing you more valuable content. See you next time!

To learn more about John Cutler:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnpcutler/

Twitter: https://x.com/johncutlefish

Newsletter: cutlefish.substack.com

Our discord community is live! Join here to engage with leaders and producers in game dev looking to make our industry a better place that makes better games: https://discord.gg/ySCPS5aMcQ

If you’re interested in an online course on becoming a better game producer, head here: https://www.buildingbettergames.gg/succeeding-in-game-production

Subscribe to our newsletter for more game development tips and resources: https://www.buildingbettergames.gg/newsletter

Ben's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjamin-carcich/

YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@buildingbettergames